Know City and State Regulations for Burning to Insure Safety and Compliance

As spring cleanup around the city begins, Cassville residents can benefit from knowing City and State regulations before starting any open burning.

Yard and household waste burning is allowed in Cassville as long as government regulations listed below are followed - such as not burning in public rights-of-way, endangering other properties, or burning substances that create odors or could explode.

It is important to note that residents can only burn on days without a burn ban. In an emergency or to report a fire, always dial 911. To determine burning conditions and fire risks, information can be found at: -- Cassville Fire Protection District, 417- 846-4005; -- U.S. Forest Service, Mark Twain National Forest, website www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf; and -- Fire Danger Board located on the north side of the Highway 112 and 76 intersection, near the Greenway Trail at the Flat Creek Bridge.

City of Cassville Codes on Burning
There are four City codes relating to burning:
Section 215.380: Reckless Burning or Exploding - A person commits the offense of reckless burning or exploding when he/she knowingly starts a fire or causes an explosion and thereby recklessly damages or destroys a building or an inhabitable structure of another.
Section 215.390: Negligent Burning or Exploding - A person commits the offense of negligent burning or exploding when he/she with criminal negligence causes damage to property of another by fire or explosion.
Section 215.630: Burning in the Public Rights-of –Way – Prohibited It shall be unlawful for any person to burn any item in the public right of ways in the City of Cassville. Violation of this Section shall be a misdemeanor. (Ord. No. 1139 §§1─2, 12-13-93)
Section 220.040: Enumerated .7. The burning within the City limits of any animal, vegetable, or other substance, the burning of which, creates or generates any disagreeable, noxious or unwholesome smell or odor.

State of Missouri Open Burning Regulations
The State of Missouri details “Facts on Open Burning Under Missouri Regulations” at www.dnr.mo.gov/pubs/pub2047.pdf. Valuable information and guidance for open burning under state law is provided. Following is general information describing burning of household or yard waste. Additional sections on the website can be found on Open Burning for Fire Training Purposes; Agricultural, Natural Resource or Land Management Operations; in Land Clearing Operations; at Wood Processing Facilities and Required Open Burning Permits.
Open Burning of Household Refuse: Missouri allows open burning of household refuse from four dwelling units or less provided it originates and is burned on the same premises. This exemption does not apply to mobile home parks or apartment complexes. Residential waste is solid waste produced by routine household activities, such as paper waste and garbage from daily activities. This does not include home remodeling wastes, wastes from home businesses, durable goods such as old appliances, carpets or furniture, tires or other nonroutine household waste. Materials such as tires or used oil may not be used to start the fires or be burned in the fires.
Open Burning of Yard Wastes: Missouri allows open burning of yard wastes from sites provided it originates and is burned on the same premises. Materials such as tires or used oil may not be used to start the fires or be burned in the fires. Yard waste includes trees, tree leaves, brush or other vegetation.

For information on city burning codes, please call 417-847-4441 or go to www.cassvillemo.net.